Iraq vet Brian Owens received a 'Flat Stanley' from a third-grader in 2004 and carried it for 10 years.

Written by

Maria Polletta
The (Phoenix) Arizona Republic

But 10 years ago, in the painstaking scrawl of an 8-year-old, Alan Orduna did.

The Huntsville, Ark., boy, along with other students in Wood's class, penned a note to accompany a paper cut-out modeled after the title character in the popular children's book "Flat Stanley." After being smashed by a bulletin board in his sleep, the book's protagonist makes the most of his new 2-D state by mailing himself to friends. ...